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Sunday, September 27, 2015

GreatGrandmother Ethel visits in 1964-1968

Correction on Nicole's age.  She is 4 maybe 5 weeks old 


























The top picture is when Grandmother Ethel came to visit about four or five weeks after Nicole was born, so this picture was taken at the end of August 1964. This is the only picture I know of where Grandmother is smiling.  She has a beautiful smile that certainly lights up her face.  Dad took the picture and I wonder what he said that was so funny that all are enjoying the moment except Nicole, she looks very sleepy.   You can see Grandmother’s handicap of how she always had to sit with her right leg in the air due to her stiff knee.  

It’s hard to believe that today the newborn on Grandmothers’ lap is a grandmother today.  Her oldest daughter Cassidy has a son who will be five in February and a daughter that just turned one.  Her second daughter Maddison has a son who turns two in a week (September) and is expecting a girl on Thanksgiving Day which is also Maddison’s birthday.    Her youngest son Christopher is getting married in January. 

Today, I am reflecting on this summer as all Nicole’s family was here the entire time and what a grand time was had by all. Then I was reminded of the summer in 1968 and was so happy I actually found a picture that has to do with the story I want to write about.

This time it’s 1968 when Grandmother came for a visit. Nicole had just turned four and the twins, Cari and Lori, just turned eighteen months and needless to say were a handful. 
 I had the silly idea to pick up Grandmother and spend the afternoon at Ross’s Park; one of the largest parks south of town.  But, how was I to manage the twins who would run in opposite directions every time they got a chance?  For some reason my mother was never interested in going with me to help with the children.

 I got this brilliant idea to buy a child harness to put them in. Safety was on my mind. I decided I’d better try it out on the twins before the big day so I put the harnesses on at home and they both immediately fell on the floor at the same time and kicked and screamed. 
Then I thought, “When at the park they will be so excited they won’t act like this.”  Right!

The next day I picked up Grandmother, had the car packed with a chair for her, a large blanket and plenty of goodies to eat.  I parked the car as close to the swings as I could. I told Nicole to play with the twins while I got Grandmother and with her cane walked slowly for about fifty steps, then settled her in the chair and quickly spread out the blanket then back to the car and told Nicole to go and be with Great-grandmother.  I got in the backseat with the twins and humored them into putting the harnesses on.   Yeah! Everything was going well.  As you can see in the picture they were wearing their cute white ‘tennis outfits’.  I carefully got them out of the car and yep, they both dropped in the powdery dirt ground kicking and crying.  Not wanting to get their white outfits dirty my reaction was to raise both my arms straight out to my side.  Now the twins were swinging with their noses just inches above the ground kicking and crying.  I took baby steps to get them on the grass (that was hard to do) and gently let them down and immediately took off the harness.  I quickly took their hand before they could get away and walked to our spot just in time for Nicole to announce she had to go to the restroom.  Now what was I to do?  

Looking at the ‘chair’ swings I put them in and gave them a big push. Then I relocated Grandmother nearby in her chair gave another big push to the swings and grabbed Nicole‘s hand and said, “lets run as fast as we can.”  The restrooms were about one hundred yards away up a hill.
Coming out of the restroom I could see a crowd of people (at least six) gathered around the back of the swings.  Thinking something terrible had happened, again I told Nicole, “Lets run” when we got closer what I saw was the funniest sight.  The swings were still and the twins were trying to climb out but my dear grandmother was leaning forward in her chair as far as she could and with her cane tapping each bar of the swing saying, “you stay in there,” Tap tap “Don’t you get out of there.”    The people were starring and talking to one another, wondering what in the world was this old lady doing with these babies?  And, where is the mother?

It was then I realized spending the afternoon at the park without another’s adult help was not a good Idea.

 I picked up my babies put them back in the car, told Nicole to play with them until I could get Grandmother loaded up.  Then back to my parents’ home.  You can see the twins are having their snacks in their cute tennis outfits and  big sister Nicole  in her bright sun dress and brown legs. Nicole was my best helper with the twins.   

This was the last memory I have of Grandmother Ethel Tomlinson.  Four months later Grandmother died. 
 18 November 1968.  Sadly she is buried at the Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park.
  Hayward, California.  I say sadly because, it’s so far away from our hometown.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Fi-Wo-Ca Literary Club 1927/28 President Grandmother Ethel Hepworth Tomlinson

Fi-Wo-Ca was a Literary Club that my Grandmother and Great Grandmother was a member of when they moved from Salt Lake City to Ogden.  It was organized in 1923 in Ogden.  What a fascinating discovery! I love this woman's club.  
This is a program for the year's 1927-1928 in which Grandmother Ethel was President.    The Club would start in late September and would meet twice a month until the first week in June.  A lot of thought and preplanning was done then a  little booklet for the literary year would be printed for all members that I would guess would be given to the members at the first meeting.  I have several of them and they are so well done.
I have scanned all the pages of 1927/28 program; cover page; inside page - states the year is was organized; the next inside page's states the
 CLUB COLORS
 Lavender and Gold

EMBLEM  Poinsettia

MOTTO
F - FRIENDSHIP                                     OFFICERS   (Six positions are listed)
I - INDUSTRY                                        
W- WOMANHOOD                             MEMBERS NAMES  (Listed are eleven names)
O - ORDER
C -CULTURE                                          
F -ACCOMPLISHMENT 


The next page has the
 Fi-Wo-Ca Club Song.  Be sure to read all the words.(I don't know the tune that was put to this song.)  Remember this is 1927/28

Fi-Wo-Ca Club Song
Friendship proves the soul's fidelity 
Industry is wonderful to see
In the heart of every girl-
The longing to proclaim her womanhood.
Culture fine and Art we're striving for.
Opportunity is at our door.
Fi-Wo-Ca stands for friendship-
Woman hood and all that's good.
CHORUS                                                         
Fi-Wo-Ca we're happy,
Fi-Wo-Ca we're snappy,
Fi-Wo-Ca we're feeling fine. 
We're learning new stories 
We're planning new glories
We're seeking new Art sublime.
Fi-Wo-Ca friendship's good for the blues
Fi-Wo-Ca womanhood improves
Fi-Wo-Ca we're happy
Fi-Wo-Ca we're snappy 
Fi-Wo-Ca We're feeling fine. 


Members of this club would take turns in meeting in their homes so the first name on the program for each month would be the HOSTESS; (name)
next, CURRENT EVENTS;  (name)
Title of the book to review or music or plays or drama  (name) 

I must list what was being discussed during this literary year, it is so interesting!


"It Happened in Pekin"  (this one was reviewed by Great Grandmother Sarah K. Hepworth)
"United States Relations with China"
New Decalogue of Science by Wiggins
New Decalogue of Science (continued)
"Madam Clair" by Susanne Ertz 
"History, Government and Religious Customs of India"
Christmas Party
"One Act Plays"
"Tolerance"  by Hendrick Wellem Van Loon
"Tolerance" (continued)
"Tolerance" (last part)
Musical Number  (Open Meeting)
"Elmer Gantry"  by Sinclair Lewis
Drama
Paper on Geology 
Russian Music
"Italy and Mussolini"  (this was given by Grandmother Ethel)
'Is this an age of self indulgence?"
Last meeting in June was Resume and  Election of Officers.  

What a variety of topics for discussion.  I found in the Ogden Newspaper under 'SOCIAL" a writeup on the meeting after each one that included how the hostess decorated the tables and what was served for refreshments.  I hope you took  note in the song the line "friendship's good for the blues/ womanhood improves."    

I will sign off with one of my favorite FAMILY HISTORY QUOTES. 
"Knowing who our family 
WAS
Reveals part of who we
ARE."